A Morley man accused of killing a 10-year-old girl in a 2012 hit-and-run appeared in court Monday for the first day of his trial.

Fergus Hunter, 21, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, hit-and-run and four counts of breach of conditions. He was out on bail when he allegedly slammed into the car carrying Eleasha Wesley and her family from behind.

Eleasha Lisa Wesley, 10, is seen here in this undated photo. (Submitted by the Wesley family)

"I was screaming, terrified," said Evan Wesley, the victim's father. "I was shaking and I check on my kids [in the back seat], I was so terrified — my late daughter was not there."

Wesley testified in court on Monday that he, his wife and two daughters were driving home from Superstore in Calgary on May 3, 2012, when they were slammed from behind by Hunter.

Wesley told the court their car then spun and rolled down into the ditch off Highway 1, just past Valley Ridge. He said he took Eleasha in his arms but knew she was dead when he saw the blood coming from her nose and mouth.

"We want our closure because we lost a dear loved one, my daughter we lost not being with us any more, that's why we want our closure and justice has to be met," said Wesley.

Witness tracked down licence plate

The court also heard from Kerry Holloway, who witnessed the crash.

Betty Chiniquay, the 10-year-old girl's mother, called the woman a hero.

"I don't know if I'm really a hero, it's nice to hear that but i just didn't really want to be seen like that, I just thought I was doing something right," said Holloway.

"Just coming from the reserve we've had many hit and run accidents out there and no one's able to come forward, so it was just my instinct at that point was if this person wasn't going to stop then we'll never find out who had caused the accident."

Holloway said she and her boyfriend were driving home to Morley when she saw a red van swerving and speeding. According to Holloway, the driver was texting.

She saw the van hit the Wesley car and decided to follow the van to get the licence plate number.

Holloway says she lost track but then found the van about two minutes later at a Petro gas station with damage to the front end.

She then called 911 with the licence plate number.

Holloway, the accused and the victim's family are all from Stoney Nakoda First Nation.

"It's a little overwhelming knowing we're all from the same community," said Holloway.

"To have that happen was kind of, wow, I didn't know what to expect so I just did what I thought was right."

The trial continues tomorrow Tuesday.

The car Eleasha Wesley an her family were in at the time of 2012 accident. Wesley, 10, died. (Calgary Police Service)